A fire caused significant damage to the cafeteria at Overcoming Believers Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Monday morning, though no injuries were reported. Firefighters responded after a neighbor reported smoke and flames coming from the building, extinguishing the fire within about an hour. The cause remains under investigation. According to Knoxville Fire Department official Tim Woods, the cafeteria sustained severe fire, smoke, and water damage, while the rest of the church experienced smoke damage. Woods said, “This fire was in a big building and had the potential to become a very large and damaging fire. The quick response and attack by the fire companies saved the property.”
Despite the damage, Senior Pastor Daryl Arnold said the church would continue serving free meals to homeless individuals as scheduled, declaring, “Just because there’s a fire on Monday doesn’t mean they don’t need to eat on Tuesday.” The congregation also continued its Bible study online and reaffirmed its commitment to ministry. Earlier this year, the church demonstrated its outreach by providing free gasoline, T-shirts, and children’s candy to hundreds of local commuters during its annual “Gas & Glory” event, which church spokesperson Karen Swint previously described as an opportunity to be “the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.”
